Mark 2 · Verse 7

Mark 2:7

Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
Mark 2:7, King James Version

Mark 2:7 in other translations

BSB“Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
WEB“Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
ASVWhy doth this man thus speak? he blasphemeth: who can forgive sins but one, even God?
YLT‘Why doth this one thus speak evil words? who is able to forgive sins except one--God?'
DARBYWhy does this man thus speak? he blasphemes. Who is able to forgive sins except God alone?
BBEWhy does this man say such things? he has no respect for God: from whom does forgiveness come but from God only?
WebsterWhy doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

What does Mark 2:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?--In this second question they expressed a great truth. (See Is 43:25; Mi 7:18; Ex 34:6, 7, &c.). Nor was their first question altogether unnatural, though in our Lord's sole case it was unfounded. That a man, to all appearances like one of themselves, should claim authority and power to forgive sins, they could not, on the first blush of it, but regard as in the last degree startling; nor were they entitled even to weigh such a claim, as worthy of a hearing, save on supposition of resistless evidence afforded by Him in support of the claim. Accordingly, our Lord deals with them as men entitled to such evidence, and supplies it; at the same time chiding them for rashness, in drawing harsh conclusions regarding Himself.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7.

(h) "forgive sins" Isa 43:25, Dan 9:9

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? - See this explained Mat 9:3 (note), etc.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 2:1-12

It was this man's misery that he needed to be so carried, and shows the suffering state of human life; it was kind of those who so carried him, and teaches the compassion that should be in men, toward their fellow-creatures in distress. True faith and strong faith may work in various ways; but it shall be accepted and approved by Jesus Christ. Sin is the cause of all our pains and sicknesses. The way to remove the…

Read the full comment on Mark 2:1-12 →

Mark 2:7 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τίtiWhyG5101
οὗτοςhoutosthis [man]G3778
οὕτωςhoutōsthusG3779
λαλεῖ;laleidoes speak?G2980
βλασφημεῖ·blasphēmeiHe blasphemes!G987
τίςtisWhoG5101
δύναταιdunataiis ableG1410
ἀφιέναιaphienaito forgiveG863
ἁμαρτίαςhamartiassinsG266
εἰeionlyG1487
μὴmēexceptG3361
εἷςheisoneG1520
ὁho<the>G3588
θεός;theosGod?G2316

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 2:7

  • Isaiah 43:25

    I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

  • Luke 5:21

    And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

  • Daniel 9:9

    To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;

  • Micah 7:18

    Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

  • Luke 7:49

    And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

  • John 20:20-23

    And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

  • John 10:33

    The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

  • Job 14:4

    Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

  • Psalms 130:4

    But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

  • Mark 14:64

    Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.

  • Matthew 26:65

    Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

  • Matthew 9:3

    And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
speak.
14:64; Mt 9:3; 26:65; Joh 10:33,36
who.
Job 14:4; Ps 130:4; Isa 43:25; Da 9:9; Mic 7:18; Lu 5:21; 7:49
Joh 20:20-23

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Mark 2:6

    But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

  • Mark 2:7

    Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

  • Mark 2:8

    And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

Read all of Mark 2

Mark 2:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Decían: ¿Por qué habla éste así? Blasfemias dice. ¿Quién puede perdonar pecados, sino solo Dios?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Pourquoi celui-ci parle-t-il ainsi? Il blasphème. Qui peut pardonner les péchés, sinon un seul, Dieu?
German
Elberfelder 1871
Was redet dieser also? er lästert. Wer kann Sünden vergeben, als nur einer, Gott?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Quid hic sic loquitur? blasphemat. Quis potest dimittere peccata, nisi solus Deus?